6 Dead, Including Suspect, in Northern Michigan Shooting Spree

Michigan State Police investigated a mass shooting in rural Missaukee County on Aug. 14, 2026, that left six people dead, including a suspect, and another person critically injured. State troopers responded to a residence in Lake Township around 11:40 a.m. following a report from a 13-year-old who had been shot in the arm, according to a police radio report obtained by Broadcastify and cited by the Daily Mail.

Upon arrival at the LaChance Road home, located roughly 260 miles north-northwest of Detroit, troopers found three people dead and a fourth person critically injured, according to Michigan State Police statements reported by NBC News and the Daily Mail. Emergency crews rushed the surviving victim to a local hospital.

Police identified 39-year-old Chad Hickman as the suspect in the shooting spree. As authorities launched a manhunt for Hickman, investigators searched another location and discovered a fourth victim dead inside a separate Missaukee County home, according to NBC News.

Manhunt and Discovery Near Whitlock Lake

State troopers eventually located Hickman’s vehicle abandoned near a wooded area close to Whitlock Lake in Caldwell Township. Investigators searched the woods using a K9 team, according to the Daily Mail.

In the wooded area near Whitlock Lake, authorities discovered Hickman and another deceased victim dead, bringing the total death toll to six, according to state police reports. State police public information officer Lt. Ashley Miller called the event heartbreaking for the community and challenging for investigators.

“This situation is heartbreaking for the community and challenging for the investigators involved,”

As of late Friday, officials had not released the identities of the deceased victims, their relationships to the suspect, or a definitive motive for the killings.

Official and Community Reactions

State and local officials offered condolences as law enforcement agencies secured the area and urged residents to avoid the active investigation zones. Michigan State Police pledged to conduct a thorough investigation and share updates as new information emerges.

State Representative Ken Borton urged the public on social media to pray for the community and the families affected by the violence, while expressing hope that the critically injured victim would recover, according to the Daily Mail. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson also posted a statement on social media expressing devastation over the Missaukee County shooting.